Combination brooch holder and necklace shortener



June 6, 1967 E. BOHLINGER ETAL COMBINATION BROOCH HOLDER AND NECKLACESHORTENER Filed March 26, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 SA/VUE L J1me 1967 E.BOHLINGER ETAL 3,323,324

COMBINATION BROOCH HOLDER AND NECKLACE SHORTENER Filed March 26, 1964 I4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Exp. 5.

. INVENTORS .ERMST Balm/van? s/mua FRIED/MN June 6, 1967 E. BOHLINGERETAL 3,323,324

COMBINATION BROOCH HOLDER AND NECKLACE SHORTENER Filed March 26, 1964 4Sheets-Sheet 5 I N VE N TO 5 ERNST .BOHL/ GERQ 514M115 L FRIED/MN BY 50"W 95 Y UATTDRNEIZS. I

J1me 1967 E. BOHLINGER ETAL 3, 3,324

COMBINATION BROOCH HOLDER AND NECKLACE SHORTENER Filed March 26, 1964 4Sheets-Sheet 4 BY WJLW TTDRNE) United States Fatent O 3,323,324COMBINATION BROOCH HOLDER AND NECKLACE SHORTENER Ernst Bohliuger, 311525th Ave., Astoria, N.Y.

11102, and Samuel Friedman, 556 Ave. Z., Brooklyn,

Filed Mar. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 355,123 8 Claims. (Cl. 63-1) Thisinvention relates to the art of jewelry clasps and more particularlyconcerns a clasp for adjusting the length of a necklace, string ofbeads, chains, or the like.

According to the invention there is provided a clasp including achannel-shaped base member. At each end of the base member is pivotallymounted an arcuate catch member. Fixed at its center inside the basemember is a leaf spring having movable opposite ends engaging ends ofthe catch members for holding them in both closed and open positions.The catch members when closed define two yokes for engaging oppositeends of a string of beads, pearls and the like. Projections are providedon the catch members to facilitate opening and closing them with respectto the base of the clasp. Suitable jewel cr-owns or jewel settings maybe mounted on the base. Alternatively a jewel crown or setting may bemounted on one of the catch members. The jewel setting will then helphold the other catch member closed. Tubular supports may be mounted onthe catch members for receiving a pin so that the clasp can be engagedon a garment or in a persons hair. The pin may serve as a locking meansfor holding the catch members closed. A pin receiving tube can beattached to the base.

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a clasp barincluding a channel-shaped base member with a centrally bent or bowedleaf spring held therein at its center, opposite ends of the leaf springbeing movable, and catch members pivotally attached to opposite ends ofthe base member for defining two yokes with the base member when thecatch members are closed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clasp as described,wherein either one of the catch members may be opened while the othercatch member remains closed with the base member, under spring tension.

A further object is to provide a clasp as described wherein a jewelsetting may be mounted on one of the catch members or base member,thejewel setting helping to hold one of the catch members closed whenmounted on the other catch member.

Still another object is to provide a clasp as described with a tubularmember mounted on the catch members or base member for engaging a pin toattach the clasp to a garment or a persons hair.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one clasp embodying the invention,with one catch member open and the other catch member closed.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the clasp of'FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the clasp with part of a necklaceshown engaged thereon.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of parts of the clasp of FIGS.l4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the clasp with catch members open andparts of an associated string of beads. FIG. 7 is a side view of anotherclasp embodying the invention, the catch members being shown open.

ice

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the clasp of FIG. 7 with catch membersshown closed.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a third clasp with catch members shown closed.

FIG. 10 is an end elevational view of the clasp of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4, taken on line 1111 ofFIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the clasp of FIGS. 911 on a reducedscale, the catch members being shown open, with parts of an associatedstring of beads and a FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the closed clasp ofFIGS. 9-11 with ends of a string of beads engaged thereby.

FIG. 14 is a side view of a fourth clasp embodying the invention.

FIG. 15 is an end elevational view of the clasp of FIG. 14.

Referring first to FIGS. 16, there is shown a clasp C1 including achannel-shaped base member 20. Inside the base member is a leaf spring22 secured at its center by two opposing centrally located indentations23 formed in opposite sides 24 of the base member. The sides 24 areintegrally formed with top wall 27. At each end of each side of the basemember is an enlargement or eye 25. The holes in the eyes 25 on opposingsides are aligned to receive rivets 28. Pivotally secured to the rivetsare ends of catch members 30a, 30b. The rivets pass through holes 26 inthe eyes 25 and holes 29 in the catch members. Each catch member has aflat arcuate structure. A projection 31 is formed on the end secured bya rivet 28. This projection serves as a stop element to prevent furtherrotation of the catch member when the catch member is open in theposition shown by catch member 3012 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. In this openposition a free, movable end of spring 22 bears on a flattened endportion or land 33 of the catch member. The other free end 34 of eachcatch member may be thinned somewhat to fit snugly inside the open basemember to bear on the center portion of the spring at indentations 23when the catch members are closed. Catch member 30a is shown in closedposition in FIGS. 1-4 with its free end 34 inside the base member. Thisarrangement prevents lateral movement of the closed arcuate catchmember. Each catch member can be independently opened and closed. Whenthe catch members are closed, the free ends of the spring 22 engage on arather flattened end portion or land 35 adjacent to and disposed at anobtuse angle to land 33, as clearly shown at the left end of the claspin FIG. 4. A projection 36 may be provided on each catch memberextending radially outwardly of the convex edge 37 of the catch memberto serve as a finger piece to facilitate opening the catch member.

A setting or crown 38 for a jewel or jewels 39 may be soldered to theflat outer side 27 of the base member. The inner concave edges 40 of thecatch members define two closed yokes with the adjacent straight edgesof the sides 24 of the base member. In these yokes can be engaged endsof a string of beads or necklace 42 shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6. Eachcatch member may be interposed between any two adjacent beads at eitherend of the necklace, such as between end beads 42 and 42" with cord 43passing through the yokes. When the necklace is worn in conventionalmanner around a persons neck, the clasp C1 will be located at the backof the wearers neck with the ornamental jeweled structure outermostsubstantially concealing the catch members and base members of theclasp. The ends of the necklace can be engaged at any points thereof tothe clasp for adjusting the length of the necklace between engagedpoints in the clasp.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a clasp C2 which is similar to clasp C1 andcorresponding parts are identically numbered. In this clasp, jewelsetting 38a is secured by solder 44 to the outer edge 37' of catchmember 30c instead of to the base member 20. The jewel setting extendsoutwardly of the catch member 300 so as to bear on the outer convex,curved edge 37" of catch member 30d when this catch member is closed.Thus the jewel setting 38a helps the spring 22 in holding the catchmember 30d in the closed position of FIG. 8. The finger pieces 36 ofcatch members 30a, 3012 are omitted here. The jewel setting serves as afinger piece to facilitate opening catch member 300. The outwardlyextending end projection 31 of catch member 30d can be engaged by afingernail to open this catch member.

In FIGS. 9-13 is shown clasp C3 which is similar to clasps C1 and C2 andcorresponding parts are identically numbered. The finger pieceprojections of catch members 30e, 30 are in the form of tubes 50a, 50b.These tubes are disposed in axial alignment when the catch members areclosed as shown in FIGS. 9-11. The free end 52 of a pin 54 can beinserted through the aligned tubes to hold them closed. This end of thepin can be engaged on a garment or in the hair of a person wearing thejeweled clasp and will be held by loop 55 at the other end of the pin.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show clasp C4 which is similar to clasp C2 in that thejewel setting 38a is secured by solder 44' on catch member 30c to bearon catch member 30d when this catch member is closed. A tube 500 issecured by solder 53 longitudinally of the outer fiat side 27 of thebase member a for receiving end 52' of pin 54". This pin will serve thesame purpose as in clasp C3 in holding the clasp on a garment or in apersons hair.

In all forms of the invention, the clasps employ the same type of basemember with an internal leaf spring having free movable ends forengaging catch members which serve as yokes for ends of a necklace. Whena jewel setting is provided'on a catch member it may serve to hold anadjacent catch member in closed position.

' The clasp may be made of gold, silver or other precious metal or ofbase metal. The base metal may be plated with precious metal. The claspserves a variety of functions as described and is a useful jewelryaccessory. Many other types of jewel settings and jewels other thanthose illustrated may be used. Other types and styles of clasp members,necklaces, beads, chains, pins, etc., may be used in association withthe clasps.

While We have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of ourinvention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to theprecise construe. tions herein disclosed and that various changes andmodifications may be made within the scope of the invention as definedin the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent 1. A jewelry clasp, comprising achannel-shaped base member having parallel side walls integrally joinedWith a transverse top wall, a leaf spring bowed at its center andsecured inside said base member, said leaf spring having movable freeends located at opposite ends of said side walls and in spaced relationto said top Wall, a first catch member pivotally secured at one endthereof to one end of the base member, a second catch member pivotallysecured at one end thereof to the other end of the base member, each ofsaid catch members having a generally fiat arcuate structure with a freeend extending into said base member when the catch members are closedwith respect to the base member, each of said catch members having camsurface means including a flat edge portion at the secured one endthereof, the free ends of the spring bearing on the flat edge portionswhen the catch members are in closed position for holding them in thisposition, the catch members in closed position defining a pair ofopenings with said base member for receiving and holding respective endsof a necklace, and means including a jewelry setting secured to an outeredge of one said catch member and closely overlying the other said catchmember when said catch members are in closed position to help keep theother catch member in closed position, and for substantially concealingthe base member and catch members when the clasp is on a support.

2. A jewelry clasp, comprising a channel-shaped base member havingparallel side walls integrally joined with a transverse top wall, a leafspring bowed at its center and secured inside said base member, saidleaf spring having movable free ends located at opposite ends of saidside Walls and in spaced relation to said top wall, a first catch memberpivotally secured at one end thereof to one end of the base member, asecond catch member pivotally secured at one end thereof to the otherend of the base member, each of said catch members having a generallyfiat arcuate structure with a free end extending into said base memberwhen the catch members are closed with re spect to the base member, eachof said catch members having cam surface means including a fiat edgeportion at the secured one end thereof, the free ends of the springbearing on the flat edge portions when the catch members are in closedposition for holding them in this position, the catch members in closedposition defining a pair of openings with said base member for receivingand holding respective ends of a necklace, the secured one end of eachcatch member having another flat edge portion engaged by a free end ofthe spring When each catch member is in open position for holding thecatch member open, whereby each catch member may be opened and closedindependently of the other catch member with respect to the base member,and means including a jewelry setting secured to an outer edge of onesaid catch member and closely overlying the other said catch member whensaid catch members are in closed position to help keep the other catchmember in closed position, and for substantially concealing the basemember and catch members when the clasp is' on a support.

3. A jewelry clasp, comprising a channel-shaped base member havingparallel side walls integrally joined with a transverse top wall, a leafspring bowed at its center and secured inside said base member, saidleaf spring having movable free ends located at opposite ends of saidside Walls and in spaced relation to said top wall, a first catch memberpivotally secured at one end thereof to one end of the base member, asecond catch member pivotally secured at one end thereof to the otherend of the base member, each of said catch members having a generallyfiat arcuate structure with a free end extending into said base memberwhen the catch members are closed with respect to the base member, eachof said catch members having cam surface means including a flat edgeportion at the secured one end thereof, the free ends of the spring bearng on the flat edge portions when the catch members are in closedposition for holding them in this position, the catch members in closedposition defining a pair of openings with said base member for receivingand holding respective ends of a necklace, and a tube having a throughpassage secured to the outer edge of each catch member, the tubes beingdisposed in axial alignment when the catch members are closed. I I

4. A jewelry clasp, comprising a channel-shaped base member'havingparallel side Walls integrally joined with a transverse top wall, a leafspring bowed at its center and secured inside said base member, saidleaf spring havmg movable free ends located at opposite ends of saidside walls and in spaced relation to said top wall, a first catch memberpivotally secured at one end thereof to one end of the base member, asecond catch member pivotally secured at one end thereof to the otherend of the base member, each of said catch members having a generallyfiat arcuate structure with a free end extending into said base memberwhen the catch members are closed with respect to the base member, eachof said catch members having cam surface means including a fiat edgeportion at the secured one end thereof, the free ends of the springbearing on the fiat edge portions when the catch members are in closedposition for holding them in this positron, the catch members in closedposition defining a pair of openings with said base member for receivingand holding respective ends of a necklace, and a tube having a throughpassage secured to the outer edge of each catch member, the tubes beingdisposed in axial alignment when the catch members are closed and meansincluding a jewelry setting secured to the top wall of the base memberfor substantially concealing the base member and catch members when theclasp is carried on said support.

5. A jewelry clasp, comprising a channel-shaped base member havingparallel side Walls integrally joined with a transverse top wall, a leafspring bowed at its center and secured inside said base member, saidleaf spring having movable free ends located at opposite ends of saidside walls and in spaced relation to said top wall, a first catch memberpivotally secured at one end thereof to one end of the base member, asecond catch member pivotally secured at one end thereof to the otherend of the base member, each of said catch members having a generallyflat arcuate structure with a free end extending into said base memberwhen the catch members are closed with respect to the base member, eachof said catch members having cam surface means including a fiat edgeportion at the secured one end thereof, the free ends of the springbearing on the flat edge portions when the catch members are in closedposition for holding them in this position, the catch members in closedposition defining a pair of openings with said base member for receivingand holding respective ends of a necklace, the secured one end of eachcatch member having another flat edge portion engaged by a free end ofthe spring when each catch member is in open position for holding thecatch member open, whereby each catch member may be opened and closedindependently of the other catch member with respect to the base member,and a tube having a through passage secured to the outer edge of eachcatch member, the tubes being disposed in axial alignment when the catchmembers are closed.

6. A jewelry clasp, comprising a channel-shaped base member havingparallel side walls integrally joined with a transverse top wall, a leafspring bowed at its center and secured inside said base member, saidleaf spring having movable free ends located at opposite ends of saidside walls and in spaced relation to said top wall, a first catch memberpivotally secured at one end thereof to one end of the base member, asecond catch member pivotally secured at one end thereof to the otherend of the base member, each of said catch members having a generallyflat arcuate structure with a free end extending into said base memberwhen the catch members are closed with respect to the base member, eachof said catch members having cam surface means including a flat edgeportion at the secured one end thereof, the free ends of the springbearing on the flat edge portions when the catch members are in closedposition for holding them in this position, the catch members in closedposition defining a pair of openings with said base member for receivingand holding respective ends of a necklace, the secured one end of eachcatch member having another flat edge portion engaged by a free end ofthe spring when each catch member is in open position for holding thecatch member open, whereby each catch member may be opened and closedindependently of the other catch member with respect to the base member,a tube having a through passage secured to the outer edge of each catchmember, the tubes being disposed in axial alignment when the catchmembers are closed, and means including a jewelry setting secured to thetop wall of the base member for substantially concealing the base memberand catch members when the clasp is carried on said support.

7. A jewelry clasp, comprising a channel-shaped base member havingparallel side walls integrally joined with a transverse top wall, a leafspring bowed at its center and secured inside said base member, saidleaf spring having movable free ends located at opposite ends of saidside walls and in spaced relation to said top wall, a first catch memberpivotally secured at one end thereof to one end of the base member, asecond catch member pivotally secured at one end thereof to the otherend of the base member, each of said catch members having a generallyflat arcuate structure with a free end extending into said base memberwhen the catch members are closed with respect to the base member, eachof said catch members having cam surface means including a flat edgeportion at the secured one end thereof, the free ends of the springbearing on the flat edge portions when the catch members are in closedposition for holding them in this position, the catch members in closedposition defining a pair of openings with said base member for receivingand holding respective ends of a necklace, a tube having a tubularpassage secured to the top wall of the base member for receiving a pinto hold the clasp on a support, and means including a jewelry settingsecured to an outer edge of one said catch member and closely overlyingthe other said catch member when said catch members are in closedposition to help keep the other catch member in closed position, and forsubstantially concealing the base member and catch members when theclasp is on a support.

8. A jewelry clasp, comprising a channel-shaped base member havingparallel side walls integrally joined with a transverse top wall, a leafspring bowed at its center and secured inside said base member, saidleaf spring having movable free ends located at opposite ends of saidside walls and in spaced relation to said top wall, a first catch memberpivotally secured at one end thereof to one end of he base member, asecond catch member pivotally secured at one end thereof to the otherend of the base member, each of said catch members having a generallyflat arcuate structure with a free end extending into said base memberwhen the catch members are closed with respect to the base member, eachof said catch members having cam surface means including a fiat edgeportion at the secured one end thereof, the free ends of the springbearing on the fiat edge portions when the catch members are in closedposition for holding them in this position, the catch members in closedposition defining a pair of openings with said base member for receivingand holding respective ends of a necklace, a tube having a throughpassage secured to the top wall of the base member for receiving a pinto hold the clasp on a support, and means including a jewelry settingsecured to an outer edge of one said catch member and closely overlyingthe other said catch member when said catch members are in closedposition to help keep the other catch member in closed position, and forsubstantially concealing the base member and catch members when theclasp is on a support, the secured one end of each catch member havinganother flat edge portion engaged by a free end of the spring when eachcatch member is in open position for holding the catch member open,whereby each catch member may be opened and closed independently of theother catch member with respect to the base member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 68,082 8/1867 James 24-73 121,48512/1871 Brock. 992,659 5/1911 Hartoch 24-73 2,051,591 8/1936 Brogan 632X 2,722,811 11/1955 Ebertin 6314 F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner.RICHARD C. .PINKHAM, Examiner.

7. A JEWELRY CLASP, COMPRISING A CHANNEL-SHAPED BASE MEMBER HAVINGPARALLEL SIDE WALLS INTEGRALLY JOINED WITH A TRANSVERSE TOP WALL, A LEAFSPRING BOWED AT ITS CENTER AND SECURED INSIDE SAID BASE MEMBER, SAIDLEAF SPRING HAVING MOVABLE FREE ENDS LOCATED AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAIDSIDE WALLS AND IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID TOP WALL, A FIRST CATCH MEMBERPIVOTALLY SECURED AT ONE END THEREOF TO ONE END OF THE BASE MEMBER, ASECOND CATCH MEMBER PIVOTALLY SECURED AT ONE END THEREOF TO THE OTHEREND OF THE BASE MEMBER, EACH OF SAID CATCH MEMBERS HAVING A GENERALLYFLAT ARCUATE STRUCTURE WITH A FREE END EXTENDING INTO SAID BASE MEMBERWHEN THE CATCH MEMBERS ARE CLOSED WITH RESPECT TO THE BASE MEMBER, EACHOF SAID CATCH MEMBERS HAVING CAM SURFACE MEANS INCLUDING A FLAT EDGEPORTION AT THE SECURED ONE END THEREOF, THE FREE ENDS OF THE SPRINGBEARING ON THE FLAT EDGE PORTIONS WHEN THE CATCH MEMBERS ARE IN CLOSEDPOSITION FOR HOLDING THEM IN THIS POSITION, THE CATCH MEMBERS IN CLOSEDPOSITION DEFINING A PAIR OF OPENINGS WITH SAID BASE MEMBER FOR RECEIVINGAND HOLDING RESPECTIVE ENDS OF A NECKLACE, A TUBE HAVING A TUBULARPASSAGE SECURED TO THE TOP WALL OF THE BASE MEMBER FOR RECEIVING A PINTO HOLD THE CLASP ON A SUPPORT, AND MEANS INCLUDING A JEWELRY SETTINGSECURED TO AN OUTER EDGE OF ONE SAID CATCH MEMBER AND CLOSELY OVERLYINGTHE OTHER SAID CATCH MEMBER WHEN SAID CATCH MEMBERS ARE IN CLOSEDPOSITION TO HELP KEEP THE OTHER CATCH MEMBER IN CLOSED POSITION, AND FORSUBSTANTIALLY CONCEALING THE BASE MEMBER AND CATCH MEMBERS WHEN THECLASP IS ON A SUPPORT.